OUTRAGEOUS BIRTHDAY CAKES RECIPES

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, gently heat the milk and butter until the butter is melted. The milk should be just a little hotter than warm, between 100 and 115 degrees F, but not over 115 degrees F. Remove the saucepan from the heat and whisk in the sugar, salt and yeast. Let the mixture sit until the yeast is activated and foam covers the top, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add the flour to a large bowl and make a well in the center. Crack the egg into the middle and pour in the yeast liquid. Make the dough by mixing all ingredients together with a rubber spatula. Make sure all ingredients are incorporated; the dough will be sticky and loose. Leave the dough in the center of the bowl when it is fully incorporated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 2 hours. Remove the plastic and gently re-knead the dough while still in the bowl. Form into a ball, as best you can, and cover with plastic wrap. This time allow to rest in a warm place for 1 hour. 
• After the second rise, remove the dough to a very generously floured surface, kneading to bring together. Cut the dough into 8 pieces, about 3 1/2 ounces each. Gently form each piece of dough into balls, incorporating more flour as needed. Use your hands to flatten each ball to a 4 1/2-inch circle. Brush a piece of pepperoni with oil and place in the center of the circle, along with 2 tablespoons shredded mozzarella. Fold the dough over the pepperoni, like a burrito, and place on a parchment-covered baking sheet seam side down. Repeat with the remaining pepperoni and cheese. As you place each pepperoni roll on the sheet tray, leave at least 1 inch or space around each roll to allow for a third rise (therefore you will need 2 baking sheets). Cover the rolls loosely with plastic wrap and place in a warm place for 30 minutes. The rolls will puff up just a bit. 
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush the tops of rolls with the remaining oil and bake in the oven 30 to 35 minutes. The rolls will have a rich golden color and crispy crust.

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Park a large Dutch oven over high heat for 2 minutes.
• While the pot is heating, rub the meat with 2 tablespoons of the salt. Add 1 tablespoon of ghee to the pot, then add the meat and sear on all sides until deeply browned — 2 to 3 minutes per side. Whatever you do, do not crowd the pan or the meat will boil rather than brown. If necessary, work in batches. As the meat is browned, move to a platter.
• Kill the heat and allow the pot to cool for 2 minutes, then add the remaining tablespoon of ghee and return to medium heat. Add half the mushrooms and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Follow with half the carrots and half the onions along with all of the garlic, herbs de Provence, pepper, and remaining salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is aromatic — 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the tomato juice and vinegar, increase the heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil. Cook, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot, until the liquid has reduced by half — 3 to 5 minutes. Then return the meat to the pot and nestle it down into the vegetables. Cover, transfer the pot to the oven, and cook for 2 hours.
• Carefully remove the pot from the oven and add the remaining mushrooms, carrots, and onions, along with all the potatoes. Cover and return to the oven until the vegetables are cooked through and the meat is fork-tender — 2 to 3 hours.
• When the meat and vegetables are done, use a slotted spoon or spider to remove the hunks and chunks to a bowl. Filter the liquid through a sieve or into a fat separator, if desired. Return the filtered and defatted liquid to the Dutch oven and simmer over medium heat until the sauce reduces by one quarter — about 5 minutes. Kill the heat and return the meat and vegetables to the pot. Cool to room temperature then refrigerate overnight (see Cook's Note).
• When ready to serve, place the covered pot back in the oven then turn the oven to 350 degrees F, allowing the roast to heat with the oven. In 45 minutes, the meat should be hot and the sauce bubbling. Serve directly from the pot to a grateful world.